The town of Cumberland is pursuing a plan to identify areas for redevelopment and tax increment financing districts.
The town’s redevelopment commission has hired Short, Elliott, Hendrickson of Indiana and Cender and Co. to complete a redevelopment area plan for $42,000, said Christine Owens, director of planning and development.
The consultants will explore areas along the Historic National Road from German Church Road in Marion County to Mount Comfort Road in Hancock County that could be redeveloped, according to a news release from Owens.
The group will make suggestions as to what upgrades could be done, how they could be funded and what sort of timeline could be followed, the release said.
The plan also is necessary to create tax increment financing districts, where business taxes can be siphoned to pay for projects and improvements.
Consultants were in town late last month to explore the community and interview stakeholders in the redevelopment effort.
The redevelopment commission expects to get a draft of the plan from Short, Elliott, Hendrickson in July.
Various boards will then study the plan and vote on whether to approve the final draft by August or September.
